THE wet conditions in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday could have contributed to road accidents that left one man dead and several others injured.

A truck driver died after his vehicle missed the intersection of Wartburg and Table Mountain roads in Pietermaritzburg.

The driver's cab was crushed by the heavy weight of the trailer after it landed first as the vehicle ploughed 500metres into thick bushes, killing him instantly.

Paramedics and firefighters had to use hydraulic equipment to free the trapped body from the wreckage.

Netcare spokesperson Jeff Wicks said: "What transpired is unclear and will be the subject of a police investigation."

In a separate accident, 10 people were injured, one seriously, after two taxis and eight cars piled up on the N3 near the Pavilion shopping centre in Durban.

It is believed that the driver of one of the vehicles lost control of his car, causing other vehicles going in the same direction to crash into each other.

The injured were treated and stabilised at the scene before being transported to a hospital in the city.

At Amanzimtoti, two people were injured, one seriously, after their bakkie overturned on the south-bound carriageway near Umbongontwini on the N2.

The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop on the roadside.

The injured managed to climb out of the wreckage before paramedics arrived. They were taken to Netcare's Kingsway Hospital for further medical care.

The provincial transport department yesterday appealed to road users to observe the rules of the road, especially during wet conditions. "Keep a safe following distance, and keep your vehicle's lights on for visibility," said spokesperson Lungile Ndlovu.